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Braves nearly combine for no-no

Braves nearly combine for no-no

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By Anthony Castrovince
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MLB.com |

BRAVES 4, INDIANS 1at Winter Haven, Fla.Wednesday, March 5

Indians at the plate: The old analysis that the "pitchers are ahead of the hitters" held true on this day, as the Indians were no-hit by a trail of Braves pitchers. The Tribe didn't even have a baserunner until Travis Hafner walked in the fourth and didn't have a hit until the ninth, when Danny Sandoval doubled off the left-field wall with two outs in the ninth.

Braves at the plate: Some big hits came in the fourth inning off Tribe closer Joe Borowski. With two on, Mark Teixeira ripped an RBI single to right. Joe Borchard followed one out later with a two-run double. In the sixth, Teixeira struck again with a solo shot to right off reliever Masa Kobayashi.

Indians on the mound: Right-hander Paul Byrd was effective in three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts. Borowski was not as sharp, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk in one inning.

Braves on the mound: Six Braves pitchers held the Indians hitless for eight innings. Newly acquired right-hander Jair Jurrjens, competing for the fifth rotation spot, looked sharp in three perfect innings against his former American League Central foes. Right-handers Jeff Bennett and Jairo Cuevas and left-handers Jeff Ridgway, Royce Ring, Francisley Bueno kept the no-no going until Colter Bean gave up a hit with two outs in the ninth.

Grapefruit League records: Braves 5-2; Indians 2-4-1.

Up next: The Indians head east to Kissimmee, Fla., for Thursday's 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Astros. C.C. Sabathia will oppose Woody Williams. The Braves will go west to Lakeland, Fla., to face the Tigers, also at 1:05 p.m. Tom Glavine will square off against Dontrelle Willis.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.